An account of the English dramatick poets, or, Some observations and remarks on the lives and writings of all those that have publish'd either comedies, tragedies, tragi-comedies, pastorals, masques, interludes, farces or opera's in the English tongue by Gerard Langbaine.

Sir Francis FANE, Junior, Knight of the Bath.

A Gentleman now living at Fulbeck in Lin∣coln-shire, and Granson (as I suppose) to the Right Honourable the Earl of Westmorland. This Noble Person's Wit and Parts, are above my Capacity to describe; and therefore I must refer my Reader to his Works, which will afford him better satisfaction. He has obliged the World with two Plays, which are equall'd by very few of our modern Poets, and has shew'd that he can command his Genius, being able to write Comedy, or Tragedy, as he pleases.

Love in the dark, or The Man of business, a Comedy; acted at the Theatre Royal by his Majesties Servants: printed 4^o. Lond. 1675. and dedicated to the Right Honourable John Earl of Rochester. The Plot of Count Sforza, and Parthelia Daughter to the Doge of Venice, is founded on a novel of Scarron's, call'd the In∣visible Mistress. Bellinganna, Cornanto's Wife, sending Scrutinio to Trivultio, to check him for making Love to her, is founded on a Novel in Boccace, Day 3. Nov. 3. Hircanio's Wife catch∣ing him with Bellinganna, is built on the Story of Socrates and his Wife Mirto, in the Loves

of Great Men p.59. Trivultio's seeming to beat Bellinganna, is grounded on a Story in Boc∣cace, See Day 7. Nov. 7.

Sacrifice, a Tragedy printed 4^o. Lond. 1686. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles Earl of Dorset and Middlesex. There are two Copies of Verses that I have seen writ in Com∣mendation of this Play; one writ by Mr. Tate, to the Author, and printed with the Play; the other writ by the late Mrs. A. Behn; see the Miscellany Poems printed with Lycidas, or the Lover in Fashion 8^o. p. 102. The Plot of this admirable Tragedy is founded on the Story of Tamerlane and Bajazet. Many are the Histo∣rians that have given an Account of the Affairs of these Great Men. Read Chalcocondylas lib.3. Leunclavius lib.6. The Life of Tamerlane by Mr. D'Assigny; the same by P. Perondini; Knolls his Turkish History, in the Life of Bajazet the First. This Play, the Authora 1.1 (wanting pa∣tience to attend the leisure of the Stage) pub∣lished without Action. How much all Lovers of Poetry are indebted to him for it, I must leave to those that are Poets to describe: I that am none, am glad to set my hand to an Address drawn up by Mr. Tate, in the following Lines.

Accept our Thanks, tho' you decline the Stage, That yet you condescend the Press t' engage: For while we, thus possess the precious store, Our Benefits the same, your Glory more; Thus for a Theatre the World you find, And your Applauding Audience, All Mankind.

'Tis not in Dramatick Poetry alone that our Author is a Master, but his Talent is equal also in Lyricks: Witness three Copies of Verses printed in Mr. Tate's Collection of Poems 8^o. One to the Earl of Rochester, upon the Report of his Sickness in Town,b 1.2 in allusion to an Ode in Horace. A second to a great Lord invi∣ting him to Court, or else to write a History in the Country:c 1.3 being a Paraphrase upon Horace Lib. 2. Ode 12. A third to a perjur'd Mistress, d 1.4 in imitation of another Ode of Ho∣race Lib. 1. Ode 8.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Epist. Dedic.
• b 1.2

  Tate's Misc. p. 11.
• c 1.3

  p. 13.
• d 1.4

  p. 16.